Steam-collector for superheaters.



N. T. MGKEE- STEAM COLLECTOR FOR SUPBRHEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1913.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nnqgmsrsw N. T. MGKEE- STEAM COLLECTOR FOR SUPERHEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. l3 1913.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 S HEETSSHEET 2.

lNl/f/VTUH NEAL T/FJMELEMKEE I m 1 a I i I 0 0 III/III WITNESSES ATTORNEYS llltllllltiln SUPERHEATER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. '21,

WARE.

H NEAL TBIMBLE MGKEE, F DDBBS FERRY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE TQ 'LOCUMUTIVE A CGRPOBATION O DELA- SCCEAJYI-COLLECTUR FDR SUPERH EATERS.

Application filed December 13, 1313.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NEAL TKIMBLE McKee, a citizen of the United States, and resident of. Dobbs Ferry, Nestchester county, New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Collectors for Superheaters, oi: which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to steam. collectors for superheaters and particularly to steam collectors for use with locomotive super heaters of the type comprising superheatinr tubes or loops arranged in boiler tlues (fire tubes), and has for its object to provide a steam collector embodying peculiar advantages as to convenient and economical construction, assembly in the locomotive, compactness, freedom. from deleterious strains due to temperature differences between the parts carryii'ig saturated and superheated steam respectively, and freedom from heat losses between said same parts.

More specifically it is the object of my invention to provide a construction of steam collector for smierhcaters somewhat similar to the two forms shown in a certain patent, granted lilarch i, 1913, Number 1,054,676, on the application of Francis J. Cole and Simon llofl'nninmbut having certain advantageous features not possessed. by either of the forms of the patent referred to, While at the same time being free from certain disadvantages pertaining to both of said forms.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the drawings in nhich- Figiu'e 1 represents a front end elevation. of a preferred form of my improved collector; Fig. 2 represents the samein plan view from below, part section, along the line 2 Fig. 3 represents a front end elevation of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 4 represents a plan view from below, part section. along the line r-i of the form shown inv Fig. 3; and F 5 represents a central trans erse section along the line 5- otl I Referring to the fern shovgn in Figs. 1 and 2 my improved steam collector a is an integral structure which comprises steam headers b and 0 arranged horizontally one in front of the other. The header 3) comprises a transverse chamber provided with a central reaiwvardly extending pipe in the Specification of Letters Patent.

lant 123, 3&151

Serial noxsoaeoi.

provided. Similarly the header 0 also C0112? prises'a transverse chamber provided with twolatcrally disposed delivery openings f adapted-to be attached to a suitable superheated steam pipes which will themselves deliver steam to the steam chests, and header branches 9, spaced conform-ably to the branches 3, which extend toward the transverse chambers oi header 5 and are interineshed with said branches 6. The steam collector as a whole is supported by the dry pipe, the superheated steam pipes, and by b 'acltets (not shown) which are attached both to the boiler and to the steam collector.

The collector, when in use, is preferably arranged horizontally in and across the upper part of the smoke box above the boiler lines in a position similar to that occupied by the collector of Cole and Hoiiniann. as shown in their above referred to Patent. Number l,05 l,678. Superhcater units of any usual type are arranged in smoke tubes as usual and the two ends 71., h, oi each unit are brought out side by side and bent upvvardly so that one end is finally normal to the bottom of the header branch 6, and. in registry with a. suitably provided opening 6' in the bottom thereof, While the other end is similarly located to t rresponding opening 7" in. bran i 1 1e it belong to the smoke tube iininedi.....e above the ends similarly one just referred to lias bent upwardly to the header branches and in registry with the openings 6, g immediately back of the first named openingse, g, and so on all the units of a given vertical. roe;

in attaching the ends 71, it, "if a super heater unit to the header "ches, preferably arrange each oi said ends with a spherical ei'ilargement and coantersinlr each opening a, g)" to correspoiid to said enlargemerit. thus providing a ball and socket joint. This oint is tightly drrln in up by means of a loose connecting clamp n and a connecting bolt 0, the clamp having enlai d openings near its ends placed to agree 1th the ends 72., it, so as to lit over said ends, and a central hole for the bolt o; .The head. of the bolt has the shape of elcuagatt. 'v rectangle; and

lit)

rests in a previously provided slot formed in the top of the collector after the bolt has been slipped up between the two header branches and g, while the nut below, which holds the clamp in place, carries a Washer which has its upper surface spherical and engaging the correspondingly countersunk bottom surface of the clamp. A spherically countersunk washer-is, preferably, placed at each end of the clamp in which is seated the spherically enlarged pipe end it. This mode of attaching the pipe ends to the header branches, i. c., the type of clamp and joint described is identical with that shown in the 5 tole llell'xnann patent above referred and constitute, no part of my present inrention.

in operation the saturated steam flows into the header 6 and into the header so branches 6 from whence it goes through all the superheater units inparallel to the sap drheated steam header branches 9, thence theheader c and out of the laterally arranged openings f to the superheater steam pipe" in the front of the smoke box.

my 'mproi'ed collector the intermeshed laterally separated be out branches 6 and g "6137 one another so that there ca ii to loss of heat from the'superheated branch to he .aturated branch. the thus ororided space between tnese branches are )OlzZS 0 by nezns of "which perheater elements are fastened to the branches. this respect my improved conction does not differ from the one piece construction, Figs. and 5, of the Cole Eloliiuann patent referred to. In my improved form of collector, however the superheated tranch g. besides being separated on each side from the sturateti br nch e, i a so completely separa ed at its from the transverse passage 7) the lateral space and the end spaces acing united so that in reality the branch 5} constitutes a finger proiectinr f om the transverse passa 0. a remit m this construction each superheated lneei independentl oi rest the col lector so that no injurious strains are set up. The tern of my n lon shown in Figs.

the superheated lying in front of ranches e and g at the saturated steam u'o sets of header branches with too front of the header flush with the ends of ate slipped, one after the other, from the front. The edges of these slots are formed with shoulders i so as to support the rectangular bolt head and engage it against rotation.

It is not essential that the two headers 32 and c should be located as to one another exactly as shown in the two modifications herein and intermediate or other positions may be chosen Wltl'liil the scope of the claims which tellowj Instead of providing the separating space at the ends or" the superheated branches {1 l n1ay,if I prefer provide them at the ends of the saturated branches 6. The modification of Figs. 35 is arran ed in this way. Similarly I may, if 1 pro 'er, place my improved steam collector in some other part of the smoke box than that described Without departing from the split of my invention. Thus it may he ,placed'on either side of the smoke box, or vertically in the smoke box, or in other positions which may be chosen.

of bolt, clamp and pipe end con- The St nection described, While preferred, is not essential to the inventionand other suitable connecting means may he employed.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1, An. integral steam collector comprising two transverse chambers for saturated and s perheated steam respectively, and a plurality .1" hranciiesopening from each chamher and alternately inter-meshed, members of one set of branches being completely separated from the steam collector except where they open into their transverse chamber while members of the other set of branches are integrally united to the steam collector both when they open into their transverse chamber and at their opposite ends.

An inte 'ral steam collector comprising two parallel elongated chambers for saturated and superheated steam respectively,

and a plurality oi. branches extendingbetween said chambers and alternately opening therein so as to constitute intermeshed saturated superheated lingers, the fin- Eers'of one lacing integrally united to out one chamber While the fingers of the other set are integrally united to both chamoers.

la a locomotive of the class described, a steam collector in the upper part of the smolte'hox comprising two transverse chambers one disposed IiiOtWfiNlly of the other,. and a plurality oi laterally separated branches opening alternately into said" chambers so as to constitute intermeshcd saturated and supe heated fingers, each of thevfing the chamberof the opposite set an end all completely separated from the chamber 0. the other set.

collector comprising of one set having an end wall hot the fingers of the other set has lbo two transverse chambers for saturated and superheated steam respectively, and a plurality of branches opening from each chamher and alternatively intermeshed, chambers and branches being in the same plane and members of one set of branches being completely separated from the steam collector except where they open into their transverse chamber, while members of the other set of branches are integrally united to both transverse chambers.

5. In a locomotive of the class described, a steam collector in the upper part of the smoke box comprising two transverse chamhers, one directly in front of the other and in substantially the same plane, and a plurality of laterally separated branches lying between and opening alternatively into said chambers so as to constitute intermeshed saturated and superheated fingers, each of the fingers of one set having an end wall common to the chamber of the opposite set while each of the fingers of the other set has an end wall completely separated from the chamber of the other set.

6. In a locomotive of the class described, a steam collector in the upper part of the smoke box comprising two transverse chambers, one disposed forwardly of the other, a plurality of laterally separated branches opening alternately into said chambers so as to constitute interi'neshed saturated. and superheated lingers, each of the fingers of one set having an end Wall common to the chamber of the oppositeset While each of the fingers of the other set has an end wall completely separated from the chamber of the other set, a plurality of superheater units each of Which has its ends connected to adjacent header branches, and fastening means for detachably securing the units in place said fastening means passing between the aforesaid laterally separated branches.

7. An integral steam collector comprising two transverse chambers for saturated and superheated steam respectively, and a plurality of branches opening from each cham her and alternately intermeshed, members of one set of bran hes being completely separated from th steam collector except Where they open into their transverse chamber While members of the other set of branches are integrally united to both transverse chambers, one of the transverse chambers being, furthermore, in a plane entirely outside of the plane of the branches so that slots, open at one side of the steam collector, are formed between said branches for the reception of fastening means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 

